Organisation Overview
Southern Launch offers bespoke space mission services from two complementary spaceports in Australia.
With regulator proven vertically integrated processes for orbital and suborbital launch, hypersonic flight, re-entries from space and range services, we ensure mission success for our customers.
Maximise orbital missions with direct ascent trajectories from 55 to 177 degrees including polar, sun-synchronous orbits and 135-degree (equivalent to 45 degree) inclination with launches from the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.
Conduct a range of suborbital missions including launches, hypersonic flight or long range vehicle testing over uninhabited land at the Koonibba Test Range or over water at the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex. World class infrastructure, including telemetry and tracking systems, is available at both sites.
Southern Launch is also a world leader in conducting orbital re-entries having successfully completed a number of missions. The team combines demonstrated regulatory expertise with over 41,000 square kilometres of land to return to space technology to Earth safely.
Southern Launch secures all required approvals, including environmental approvals, to undertake space related activities at our two unique spaceports.
Expertise and Capabilities
Our team of leading engineers, project managers, specialists, and regulation experts work with customers to manage all aspects of space missions.
Southern Launch is the most experienced Australian spaceport provider in securing regulatory approval to conduct space missions.
Approvals are secured by dedicated regulatory, range operations and flight safety analysis teams at Southern Launch. Together these teams work closely with the customer, Australian Space Agency, Civil Aviation Safety Authority and more than 30 other regulatory bodies to secure approvals for space launches and returns from orbit in a timely manner.
Unique Selling Points
Southern Launch offers two unique spaceports designed to support all our customer’s requirements.
The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex supports direct ascent trajectories from 55 to 177 degrees including polar, sun-synchronous orbits and 135 degree (equivalent to 45 degree) inclination. The complex can also accommodate hypersonic flight testing.
The Koonibba Test Range is the largest commercial rocket testing facility in the Southern Hemisphere. The overland range encompasses up to 41,000 square kilometres and extends up to 350 kilometres over uninhabited land.
Both ranges are fully instrumented with onsite telemetry and tracking capabilities. The Koonibba Test Range is also equipped with a 16.8 metre launch rail capable of launching rockets up to 4,200kg.
The Koonibba Test Range is operated in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation and was Australia’s first licensed space launch facility.
Capabilities
- Component and Subsystem Management
- Launch Services
- Launch Support Services
- Legal Services
- R&D
- Space-related Research and Development
- System Engineering and Technical Support
- System Engineering and Technical Support Services
- Technical Support Services
